Sodexo marks 30-year partnership with StFX with donation to the Jeannine Deveau Fund

Sodexo’s 30-year partnership with StFX came with some extra special good news.

During an Oct. 11 celebratory dinner at the McKenna Centre to mark the milestone, the campus food services company donated $30,000 to StFX’s Jeannine Deveau Educational Equity Endowment Scholarship Fund, aimed at making a university education more accessible to members of the African Nova Scotian and First Nations communities. In effect, the amount doubles to $60,000 due to the Deveau Fund’s matching clause.

Kevin Fraser, General Manager of Food Services, says Sodexo will celebrate certain milestones at accounts, and 30 years is one of them. He says they started to think about what they could do to give back to StFX and the students in general.

“It’s a partnership, and we wanted to give back to the university and to students,” he says. “We thought this would be a good way to do it.

“To give to the Deveau Fund puts money directly towards Aboriginal and African Nova Scotia students, and the money would then double.”

StFX Director of Development Wendy Langley welcomed the news and thanked Sodexo for the donation.

“It’s a great demonstration of Sodexo’s awareness of the university’s priorities. They chose to donate not only to the Xaverian Fund but the Jeannine Deveau Fund, helping us support the communities that need it the most, and doubling the financial impact of the gift,” she says.

“They felt as passionate about this fund as we do. This gift is significant and it will directly impact students.”

Mr. Fraser noted that at StFX, Sodexo has 13 employees that have worked with the company for over 30 years.

Sodexo invited current and former administrators, including former food liaison committee chair Lorris Kaiser, to the seven-course celebratory dinner led by Sodexo executive chef Mike Pollock and the culinary team at StFX.